PLEASANTLY RARE
Today I met one of the rare model conductors. Mature-looking, calm, collected and cool. His polite mien catches my attention. I'm mesmerized as such character in our Lagos bus boys is very uncommon. His calm spirit is infectious. No angry call for change. A comment in that regard illicit friendly simple response. 'E jo e ma binu' A pass of his fares from angles on the bus is met with a thank you. After a usual detour to avoid a near standstill traffic, model guy calls for one passenger to fill the last space. A middle-aged woman enters with comment as to the fare. She was good-natured in her delivery. This meets an equally pleasant response from the conductor. They chatter about that for a few minutes. It is a sight to behold. I kept smiling like a sheep as I take notes. Now there's a tradition that the conductor perches as the fifth person on the seat nearest to the door. This usually causes a stir even a quarrel. This day the bus boy didn't have to